GHSO Announces Special Click It or Ticket Enforcement Blitz

Effort Will Buckle Down on Those Not Buckled Up – Especially in Rural Areas

NASHVILLE – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports Americans driving or riding on rural roadways face a much greater risk of being injured or killed in traffic crashes than urban or suburban area motorists. 

One big reason:  seat belt use in the nation’s rural areas consistently trails the national average.  In 2008, only 79 percent of rural drivers and their passengers in the U.S. were observed wearing their seat belts compared to 84 percent of urban motorists.

Beginning November 17, the Governor’s Highway Safety Office is joining forces with NHTSA, and state and local highway safety and law enforcement leaders to launch a special high-visibility Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign to buckle down on all motorists not buckling up – but especially those in rural areas.

This special enforcement emphasis on rural roadways will take place in addition to Tennessee’s participation in the national Click it or Ticket seat belt enforcement mobilization planned for late May next year.

“We’re going to send the Click it or Ticket message out loud and clear, to all drivers and passengers, but with a special emphasis on those in rural areas,” said Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner Gerald Nicely.  “Rural areas account for a disproportionately high number of traffic deaths.  While only about a quarter of the U.S. population lives in rural areas, more than half of all traffic fatalities occur in rural areas.”

In Tennessee during 2007, 59 percent of the State’s 1,210 traffic fatalities occurred in a rural area, compared to 41 percent in an urban area.

“It is clear we must do something to address the number of crashes in rural parts of our state,” said GHSO Director Kendell Poole.  “In addition, other motorists most at risk of experiencing a fatal crash are teen drivers, particularly young males, and pickup truck drivers and passengers. A common factor in each case is a lack of safety belt use.”

Nearly half (270) of all passenger vehicle fatalities in rural areas involved light trucks.   Among those, where restraint use was known, nearly three-fourths (74%) were unrestrained.  What’s more, 80% of pickup truck occupants killed in Tennessee were not restrained (where restrained use was known).  This holds true in rural areas, urban areas, and overall in the state.

Poole explained that regular safety belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes. “Seat belts clearly save lives. Sadly, too many folks in Tennessee, particularly in our rural areas, need a tough reminder. So, this November, we’re committed to doing all we can to convince Tennesseans to buckle up for protection. No more warnings. No more excuses. No matter who you are or where you are on the road, don’t risk it. Click It or Ticket.”

For more information, please visit www.region4ruralbeltproject.org or www.NHTSA.gov .

###
TDOT Communications Office
615-741-2331
Julie.A.Oaks@state.tn.us